Blanchard Library presented a special program,
Latino Progress: A Demographic Approach

March 11, 2015
Santa Paula News

The classroom came to Santa Paula last month when Blanchard Community Library presented a special program, Latino Progress: A Demographic Approach. BCL Adult Reference Librarian Buddy Flick introduced CSU Channel Islands Professor Dr. Luis Sanchez PhD to an appreciative hometown audience in the library’s Hardison Room. 

Dr. Sanchez, who teaches sociology and demography at CSU Channel Islands, was born and grew up in Santa Paula. “My educational journey has taken me across the United States,” Dr. Sanchez said. He graduated from Ohio State and earned a double PhD in sociology and demography from Penn State.“I’m looking forward to sharing some data that I’ve been working with and having a talk on Latino progress in the United States,” he said. Dr. Sanchez welcomed questions and discussion throughout his presentation. “There’s no quiz, except for my mom and dad,” he quipped. “I told my mom and dad that there would be a quiz.”

He had an anecdote about one of his students from Santa Paula. “It turns out that my mom was her first grade teacher. She still remembered Mrs. Sanchez, and I had the pleasure of having her in my statistics class and in my demography class. So it has come full circle.”

The two-hour interactive program featured an extensive assortment of graphs and photographs detailing Latino progress in areas of economics, social and demographic data in both Ventura County and on the national level. The program explored changes in employment opportunities and availability, comparing and contrasting present day realities to those at the time of early 20th century immigrations, as well as generational changes and progression. 

Dr. Sanchez used a Diego Rivera mural, La Maestra Rural, to beautifully illustrate the all-important factor of education. He pointed to encouraging statistics that signify substantial progress for the U.S. Latino population with attainment of high school diplomas and increasing college enrollment rates. 

 “What is the number one vehicle to upward mobility?” Dr. Sanchez asked. “It’s education.” He explained that as each generation improves its education, they can provide higher education for their children, resulting in better jobs and brighter prospects for their future. 

Dr Sanchez used graphs to illustrate Latino population increases, projections, and gains in education over several decades. He demonstrated the challenges presented by social stratification, and highlighted internal migration within the United States. He presented a graph for Ventura County showing increased achievement of bachelor degrees by U.S.-born Latinos 25 and older, representing an impressive three-fold increase in recent years. 

Dr. Sanchez reflected on future Latino progress as the country’s largest minority group. “I think there is no doubt that issues and obstacles face the Latino community,” he said. He told the educators in the audience that as a society, a highly educated work force is needed to prepare for the 21st century and remain competitive with other countries.

“Let’s work harder.” Dr. Sanchez said. “Let’s work together. This is an American and a Ventura County issue. We’re in it together, and we can make a difference. It’s truly up to us as to how it unfolds. I’m hoping to make a difference at Channel Islands.”

 “I want to make sure we focus on the good, and on progress, too,” Dr. Sanchez said. “There has been improvement. The message I want to give is that the story has yet to unfold. There is still a lot taking place. The question there is, ‘what are we going to do?’”

The story is not yet written. It is being written now.

Blanchard Community Library will present another interesting program on Thursday, March 12 at 6 p.m. with CSU Channel Islands Professor Cause Hannah, PhD., A New Era of Research on Santa Rosa Island.





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